2023 Year in Review
By God’s grace and through His favor, 2023 was an incredible year for Homes for HOPE. God deserves all the glory for everything we’re rejoicing in as we enter 2024. The following are some highlights from a year unlike any other. But before we get to them, we don’t want to go any further without thanking our incredible partners. Without your multi-faceted investment in this mission, none of this would’ve been possible. Thank you for serving alongside Homes for HOPE in 2023!
The greatest privilege we have at Homes for HOPE is the opportunity to invest in talented men and women around the world who are working hard to break the cycle of generational poverty in all its forms. And we love to share their inspiring stories with you. Like Jovelee in the Philippines, who grew from combing through a landfill in search of things to sell to owning 43 shops and providing jobs for 100 employees. Or Artem and Alina in Ukraine, who clothe and employ internally displaced people fleeing the front lines of the war, paying them daily so they can get back on their feet. We shared about Dumel and Pierre from Haiti, who live with disabilities but are still able to provide for their families and experience restored dignity as they grow their businesses and enjoy the community HOPE provides. We also celebrated the 2023 Homes for HOPE Award Winners, Ezekiel and Julienne from Rwanda, who began their journey with HOPE while running a small corn flour business and living in a mud hut with their family. 15 years later, they now own multiple shops, wholesale stores, farms, and a transportation business, which all provide jobs for others in their community. They’ve even built a beautiful home for their growing family with running water and electricity. In each of these stories, we’ve seen common themes of resilience, generosity, and incredible men and women placing their hope in God for their meaning, purpose, and joy in life – not the loans HOPE provides. There are so many more stories we could tell, but let’s shift our focus to celebrate the myriad of ways the Homes for HOPE network of partners has endeavored to support our mission this past year.
When they launched their first Homes for HOPE Project, Pahlisch Homes asked us, “What’s the largest donation you’ve ever received?” We told them, and it was an intimidating number, but they had a goal in mind to beat it. Thanks to the unprecedented generosity of their committed trade partners and suppliers, they set a new benchmark for us and generated the largest donation we’ve ever received on a Homes for HOPE project! Tens of thousands of entrepreneurs, like the people we mentioned above, will now have the capital they need to invest in their businesses and break the cycle of poverty for their families. So to Dan, Matt, the Pahlisch team, and their trade partners: Thank you for giving a hand up instead of a handout.
We launched a partnership with the Professional Women in Building of Richmond, VA, and it was pure joy. There were so many layers to the project that only a sovereign God could have orchestrated. The story is continuing as well. Many other PWB chapters nationwide are looking into partnering with Homes for HOPE in 2024 and beyond. We are so grateful for the creativity and camaraderie this project has displayed. Read and watch the unbelievable story here.
The winner of the prestigious 2023 Bigelow Award was Providence Homes in Jacksonville, FL. This award is named in honor of Perry Bigelow, who served as Homes for HOPE’s board president for over twenty years. Given to one partner each year who embodies our organizational values of Faithfulness, Perseverance, Honesty, and Creativity, the Bigelow Award also recognizes longevity in partnership, generosity, and passionate advocacy for our mission. Join us as we honor and celebrate their more than two decades of impact.
Homes for HOPE added three new board members, whose diverse wisdom and experience will bring needed perspective and guidance as we continue to scale and grow this organization. We are so grateful for the prayer, dedication, expertise, experience, and commitment of all the incredible building industry leaders who sit on our board of directors.
Ron Froelich, the beloved founder of Froehlich Signature Homes in Bakersfield, CA, went home to be with the Lord in early 2023. While our time together was short, we are thankful to have known Ron and rejoice that he is no longer hurting. Our thoughts and prayers are with MaryAnn, his children, grandchildren, and of course faithful dog, Bear. The Froehlich Signature Homes Family will always have a friend in Homes for HOPE. May we all take a note out of Ron’s book to invest in those God has placed around us.
So many incredible things happened in 2023! We launched a new strategy with ECI, hosted a full Homes for HOPE Vision Trip, participated in Jim Davidson’s Annual Clay Day, hosted our second virtual event, and launched Homes for HOPE projects with EIGHT brand new partners (including CDW Homes whose owner, Chad White, I met at a Las Vegas McDonald’s next to Circus Circus during IBS)!
All of these things and more have led to Homes for HOPE investing in more underserved families around the world for their holistic flourishing unto the glory of God…more than we ever have before. Thank you for coming with us on this journey.
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! – 2 Corinthians 9:15
